勅修百丈清規 2.34

2.34

The worthies of the past only invigorated the ancestral vehicle and made clear their own nature, guiding later students to recognize that there is transmission and reception, so as to repay kindness. Thus Baling's 'three turning phrases' served as a memorial service for Yunmen; the men of prior generations were profound in their intention. Nevertheless, honoring one's master and revering the Way requires that ritual decorum not be neglected. In advance of the date, the abbot produces his own funds and delivers them to the monastery storehouse to arrange the sacrificial offerings. The evening before, they are properly arranged in the dharma hall. The hall postulant announces it to the assembly and hangs the scripture-chanting notice. That evening they chant the Śūraṅgama Dhāraṇī; compatriots and fellow Dharma relatives recite the Great Compassion Dhāraṇī, followed by the postulants, whose chanting and dedications of merit are all the same. The next morning, the abbot offers morning congee; when the congee is finished, the assembly chants the Great Compassion Dhāraṇī, and compatriots and fellow Dharma relatives raise the recitation. At mid-day, concluding the memorial chanting, the abbot offers food, and sets forth special hospitality tea and offers incense (the Bodhidharma memorial is the same). The two ranks offer incense, and the assembly bows together (for from the head seat on down, all are called fellow students). At mealtime, the abbot enters the hall, burns incense, unfolds his niṣīdana and bows, then returns to his place; the robes-and-bowl attendant distributes the offerings (to distribute the offerings during the scripture-chanting in the dharma hall is contrary to propriety). When the meal is finished, they take their seats and tea is offered; the incense-burning attendant conducts the ritual. If special hospitality broth to accompany the portrait is set forth (after the meal, the abbot's guest prefect invites the west hall and the two ranks to keep company before the portrait in the evening and partake of broth; the seats are arranged facing the spirit tablet to the right of the seat; the abbot salutes them to take their seats, burns incense, and serves broth, as well as serving broth to those keeping company; he steps back, burns incense, unfolds his niṣīdana and bows, rises, greets them with folded hands to thank them for their company; the drum is struck three times, and they leave their seats; if there are three to five persons in the west hall, it is divided into two seatings: in the first seating, the west hall drinks broth and the abbot performs the ceremony; in the second seating, the two ranks drink broth and the attendant performs the ceremony; or if there is no west hall, it is omitted. After the scripture-chanting is over, broth and fruit are prepared, and the two ranks and retired officers are invited beforehand; if there are Dharma relatives, seniors, or fellow disciples, all should be invited; junior disciples and disciple-grandsons must not share the same mat; once seated, the abbot rises, offers incense, and presents the broth; after this, the attendant burns incense and serves broth and fruit).